RIGHTS OF LAND USE

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30154, 11 June 1963, Page 16

RIGHTS OF LAND USE

Town Planning Criticised “7’he Press” Special Service ROTORUA, June 10. “I am thoroughly satisfied from my own persona] experience that thousands and thousands of pounds a year of your money and mine is being spent to enable useless and hopeless appeals and objections to be brought merely to keep alive hope of compensation,’’ said Mr H. M. Wheaton. an Auckland lawyer, criticising townplanning legislation. He was speaking at the Constitutional Society’s Convention in Rotorua. Mr Wheaton said that 10 years ago a person who had a land transfer title could say with some certainity that he had a freehold title with al! the advantage of ownership. “Today, lam not so sure. We may be just fooling ourselves, or being fooled by others."

The change. said Mr Wheaton, has been brought about by the Town Planning Act, 1953, and the interpretation which was being put on it.

“Freehold titles, involving transactions over the years running no doubt into thousands of millions of pounds are being whittled away for some. while for others' fortunes are being made by provisions of this act. introduced and passed by a Government allegedly pledged to free ownership and enterprise. From time to time since 1953 the act has been amended to make the strait-jacket even tighter." Mr Wheaton said. He said he believed that the freehold title was on the way out in New Zealand and a “use-hold" title would be substituted. The system of such titles would ensure that persons used their land in some specific way or ways, but all restrictive. “You will be told where you can live, you will be told where you must do this or that, where the shops will be, where the offices will be You will not be asked, you will be told. Heavy penalties are enacted if you disobey. Your buildings can be pulled down." Mr Wheaton said. This ordering and planning of the individual's property was being done by bureaucrats in Wellington and oossibly some in Auckland, Mr Wheaton said.